[D-p-Cl-Phe6,Leu17]-VIP

The mammalian circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a heterogeneous structure. Two key populations of cells that receive retinal input and are believed to participate in circadian responses to light are cells that contain vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). VIP acts primarily through the VPAC2 receptor, while GRP works primarily through the BB2 receptor. Both VIP and GRP phase shift the circadian clock in a manner similar to light when applied to the SCN, both in vivo and in vitro, indicating that they are sufficient to elicit photic-like phase shifts. However, it is not known if they are necessary signals for light to elicit phase shifts. Here we test the hypothesis that GRP and VIP are necessary signaling components for the photic phase shifting of the hamster circadian clock by examining two antagonists for each of these neuropeptides. The BB2 antagonist PD176252 had no effect on light-induced delays on its own, while the BB2 antagonist RC-3095 had the unexpected effect of significantly potentiating both phase delays and advances. Neither of the VIP antagonists ([d-p-Cl-Phe6, Leu17]-VIP, or PG99-465) altered phase shifting responses to light on their own. When the BB2 antagonist PD176252 and the VPAC2 antagonist PG99-465 were delivered together to the SCN, phase delays were significantly attenuated. These results indicate that photic phase shifting requires participation of either VIP or GRP; phase shifts to light are only impaired when signalling in both pathways are inhibited. Additionally, the unexpected potentiation of light-induced phase shifts by RC-3095 should be investigated further for potential chronobiotic applications.

Although previous studies have shown that interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) decreases acetylcholine (ACh)-induced intestinal contraction by an action on the enteric nervous system, the neuromediator(s) involved are still unknown.Aim:To determine the role of nitric oxide (NO), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and/or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in mediating this inhibitory effect.Methods:The effects of NO synthase inhibitors, VIP and ATP antagonists on motor response to the ACh were investigated before and after 90-min exposure of a rat preparation of jejunal longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus to IL-1 beta. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, NG-nitro-L-arginine and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine were used to inhibit NO synthase, VIP (10-28) and [D-p-Cl-Phe6, Leu17] VIP to block VIP receptors, and suramin to block ATP receptors.Results:NO synthase inhibitors failed to block the inhibitory effect of IL-1 beta on ACh-contracted jejunum smooth muscle. Suramin also failed to affect IL-1 beta-induced inhibition, whereas VIP antagonists abolished it. Moreover, the action of IL-1 beta was partly reproduced by VIP.Conclusions:While neither NO nor ATP accounts for the inhibitory effect of IL-1 beta on ACh-contracted jejunum, VIP seems to be a key-mediator of this effect.

PTH-related peptide (PTHrP), which shares 8 of 13 NH2-terminal residues with PTH, causes similar biological effects and interacts with the same receptor as PTH. In the gastrointestinal tract, human PTH and PTHrP-(1-34) relax rat fundic strips. However, the level of their action and the receptor involved in this effect are unknown. The aims of this study were 1) to determine the effects of human PTH-(1-34), human PTHrP-(1-34), -(1-16), and -(7-34) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on circular isolated smooth muscle cells from guinea pig ileum; 2) to study the intracellular pathways involved in these effects; and 3) and to characterize the receptors involved by using specific antagonists. Smooth muscle cells were dispersed by enzymatic digestion. Contraction was assessed by measuring the length of 50 cells and expressed as the percent decrease in cell length from the control value. The relaxing effects of PTH, PTHrP and analogs, VIP, or antagonists were expressed as a percentage of the maximal effect observed in their absence. VIP, PTH-(1-34), and PTHrP-(1-34), -(1-16), and -(7-34) had no effect by themselves on these cells. However, when cells were contracted by the sulfated C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (10 nM), VIP, PTH-(1-34), and PTHrP(1-34) inhibited the sulfated C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas PTHrP-(1-16) and -(7-34) had no effect. The EC50 values of VIP, PTH-(1-34), and PTH-(1-34), and PTHrP-(1-34) were 7 nM, 20 pM, and 20 pM, respectively. The VIP antagonist ([D-P-Cl-Phe6,Leu17]VIP) inhibited VIP-, PTH-(1-34)-, and PTHrP(1-34)-induced relaxation, with IC50 values of 20, 500, and 400 pM, respectively. Likewise, the PTH/PTHrP antagonist [Tyr34-bovine PTH-(7-34)NH2] inhibited PTH-(1-34)-, PTHrP(1-34)-, and VIP-induced relaxation, with IC50 values of 1, 1, and 90 pM, respectively. Preincubation of cells with somatostatin, N-ethylmaleimide, and (R)-p-cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphothioate inhibited the PTH-(1-34), PTHrP(1-34)-, and VIP-induced relaxation. In conclusion, human PTH and PTHrP induce a relaxation of intestinal smooth muscle by a direct myogenic effect. This effect requires the 1-34 amino acid sequence and is mediated by the activation of adenylate cyclase and protein kinase-A. Interactions among PTH, PTHrP, and VIP indicate that they may cross-react with their respective receptors.